Real News, Your Way.
ByLines delivers short-form video journalism to help you stay informed in seconds — not scrolls.
ByLines delivers short-form video journalism to help you stay informed in seconds — not scrolls.
Younger audiences are increasingly turning to short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram for information, leaving traditional news outlets struggling to stay relevant. These entertainment-driven platforms often prioritize viral content over factual reporting, making it harder for Gen Z and Millennials to engage with reliable journalism and stay informed about current events.
ByLines is a concept app designed to bridge that gap. It delivers verified news through a scroll-based, TikTok-style video feed powered by legacy media outlets and independent journalists. Users can read full articles in-app, join moderated discussions, and personalize their feed based on interests and engagement. By meeting users where they are and encouraging thoughtful interaction, ByLines aims to make credible news accessible, engaging, and habit-forming for a new generation.
Instantly dive into a TikTok-style news feed curated from trusted outlets and independent journalists.
Tap “Read More” to open full articles inside the app without leaving your feed.
Before commenting or sharing, users are prompted to reflect or ask a question — encouraging more thoughtful engagement.
After posting your thoughts, join moderated discussions with other users, journalists, and topic experts.
Rate stories and select topics of interest to improve your personalized algorithm over time.
Watch real-time broadcasts from partner networks directly in the app, accessible via a live feed tab.
Discover trending topics through a dynamic search page that highlights diverse perspectives from multiple sources.
Manage your preferences, saved stories, comment history, and feed interests from your personal dashboard.
To successfully launch ByLines and connect with its target Gen Z and Millennial audience, the promotional strategy focuses on meeting users where they already are — on short-form video platforms. The campaign will use a mix of organic social media content, influencer partnerships, engaging calls-to-action, and cross-promotion with legacy media outlets. Early promotions and feature voting incentives will help drive downloads and build an invested user base from day one.
ByLines will launch with targeted campaigns on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts — the same platforms where our audience already consumes content. These campaigns will feature behind-the-scenes clips from partnering newsrooms, “Did You Know?” segments pulled from current news stories, and creator-led explainers that mimic the app’s tone and format.
We’ll collaborate with digital journalists, educators, and micro-influencers in the civic engagement and news literacy space to organically promote the app’s features and mission.
Every promotional video will end with a strong CTA like “Get the full story on ByLines” or “Swipe smarter — download now.” Within the app, we’ll also use internal CTAs to drive engagement, such as encouraging users to “Share your take,” “Join the discussion,” or “Rate and explore.”
To boost early adoption, we’ll offer limited-time incentives such as exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, participation badges, and the ability to vote on future features for engaged users.
As part of future partnerships, participating media outlets can promote their ByLines presence on their own channels, encouraging their followers to engage with news in a more interactive format.
ByLines is more than a class project — it’s a prototype for how journalism can evolve to meet the habits of modern news consumers. Looking ahead, the platform could grow into a full-fledged tool for both independent creators and legacy media outlets to distribute short-form video journalism. Features like verified journalist badges, integration with journalism schools, and nonprofit media partnerships could help expand its credibility and impact.
As the platform scales, there’s also potential to develop a creator onboarding program, offering training in ethical reporting, sourcing, and production — ensuring that the content on ByLines remains both engaging and trustworthy. Ultimately, the goal is to make verified news just as viral and scrollable as entertainment — empowering the next generation to be more informed, more curious, and more connected to the world around them.